Monastrell is a storage onion that takes 106 to 110 days from seed to harvest, delivering substantial golden bulbs suited to long-term keeping. This cultivar thrives in full sun and wide spacing, and it rewards early starting indoors with larger bulbs come autumn. Start seeds 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost date for the best results, then transplant outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before frost when soil reaches at least 45°F.
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Monastrell responds powerfully to early starting, with bulb size increasing noticeably the sooner you get seedlings going indoors. This variety demands full sun and generous spacing of 12 inches both ways, which keeps air circulating and prevents disease pressure in storage-focused bulbs. The long growing season of 106 to 110 days means you're investing time for a reward: onions built for keeping, not quick consumption.
Monastrell is grown as a storage onion for kitchen use through the winter months. Its bulbs are harvested at full maturity and cured for extended shelf life, making it a practical choice for gardeners who want homegrown onions available well into the cooler seasons.
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Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow at 1/4 inch depth and keep soil temperature between 60°F and 85°F for best germination, though seeds will sprout at the minimum 45°F. Transplant outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Earlier transplanting produces larger bulbs.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date when soil is workable and has reached at least 45°F. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Firm soil around transplants to ensure good contact.
You may direct sow outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date as soon as soil can be worked and soil temperature is at least 45°F, though indoor starting is recommended for larger bulbs.
Harvest Monastrell when the bulbs have matured after 106 to 110 days. Dig bulbs when the foliage begins to die back and fall over naturally in late summer or early fall. Allow bulbs to cure in a warm, dry location with good air circulation for several weeks before storing; curing hardens the skins and extends storage life.
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